May 2014 Tank of the Month

Genetics · 04/23/2014, 11:31 AM

This month we are featuring Nicholas Le's (stonecold) 180 US-gallon reef aquarium.

More details can be found here.

Congratulations, Nicholas!

Also check out the Reefkeeping Blog!

If you'd like to nominate a tank for Tank of the Month, click here or use the button to the right.

DgenR8 · 05/02/2014, 04:19 AM

I love this tank. Thank you for sharing it with us.

sahin · 05/02/2014, 04:48 AM

This is an amazing tank, I am glad the recognition has been made. This tank certainly deserves TOTM. Well done my friend!

cthedaytrader · 05/02/2014, 07:54 AM

amazing tank, one of my favorites in a long time. Well done.

Jeremy B. · 05/02/2014, 09:11 AM

Nick, absolutely amazing tank, great job!!!

G_Sanab922 · 05/02/2014, 11:19 AM

Wow this is gorgeous! Love the variety of colors!

leandro_souza · 05/02/2014, 01:19 PM

I'm very jealous here ..

Awesome tank.. Congratulations.

Allmost · 05/02/2014, 01:30 PM

oh wow ! amazing color, amazing growth, and the aqua-scaping is out of this world !

would you mind telling us more about how you "suspended" the rocks from the sand bed by 1-2" ? any pics of the tank before corals went in ?

Thank you for sharing your system with us.

bmullikin1 · 05/02/2014, 04:40 PM

incredible looking tank, are your phosphates really .21, as it goes against all the supposed rules.

sean obergfell · 05/02/2014, 05:04 PM

Just beautiful ....love the dimensions....
So, on a cloudy day... Lights are turned off..... Very interesting, please tell us more on why?

I ask because I live in western NY..... I see many cloudy days!!

Thank you,
Sean

Billini20 · 05/02/2014, 05:10 PM

Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the floor! Who needs a Television when you could look at that all day. Just amazing

Stolireef · 05/02/2014, 05:13 PM

You have set an incredibly high standard with this tank. When my wife saw it, and looked at my still cycling 110, her first response was "Make it look like that!!"

Just beautiful.

GoldeneyeRet · 05/02/2014, 05:24 PM

Im speechless..... congrats!

shred5 · 05/02/2014, 05:56 PM

Nice tank.. congrtas..

How long have you had the goni? is it as big as it looks...

stonecold · 05/02/2014, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genetics

This month we are featuring Nicholas Le's (stonecold) 180 US-gallon reef aquarium.

More details can be found here.

Congratulations, Nicholas!

Again, I sincerely would like to thank Reef Central and ReefKeeping Magazine/Nate for this great opportunity!!

stonecold · 05/02/2014, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DgenR8

I love this tank. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cthedaytrader

amazing tank, one of my favorites in a long time. Well done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by G_Sanab922

Wow this is gorgeous! Love the variety of colors!

Quote:

Originally Posted by leandro_souza

I'm very jealous here ..
Awesome tank.. Congratulations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billini20

Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the floor! Who needs a Television when you could look at that all day. Just amazing

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldeneyeRet

Im speechless..... congrats!

The recognition would not be possible without the great hobbyists; therefore, I also would like to thank each and everyone for your precious time and generosity in making this all possible. Thank you so much!!

slgcmg · 05/02/2014, 07:48 PM

How long have you had the goni? How do you not get algae blooms with your phosphate at .21??

SPotter · 05/02/2014, 07:53 PM

Well deserved!!!!!!

stonecold · 05/02/2014, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sahin

This is an amazing tank, I am glad the recognition has been made. This tank certainly deserves TOTM. Well done my friend!

Sahin. Thank you for following and the nomination. IMO, you're 1 of the biggest contributor in this great hobby of ours.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy B.

Nick, absolutely amazing tank, great job!!!

Jeremy. I'm sure that you have a lot of Nicholas/Nick in your database, but I am that Nick that you, your wife, Michelle, and your crew has helped throughout the years with all those crazy questions. As you can see, it has finally paid off. Thank you your precious time and patience. You, your wife and your crew are all SUPER STARS!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allmost

oh wow ! amazing color, amazing growth, and the aqua-scaping is out of this world !

would you mind telling us more about how you "suspended" the rocks from the sand bed by 1-2" ? any pics of the tank before corals went in ?

Thank you for sharing your system with us.

Thank you. Unfortunately, I don't have any pics of the aquascape w/o corals.

Regarding the "suspended" rocks. I have a total of 5 structures in the tank. With the exception of the left front structure (where the Efflo is) and the Goni, the other 4 are supported by small rocks. These rocks serve as "legs" ie our chair legs. Not very good pics, but I hope the pics below will illustrate what I am speaking off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean obergfell

Just beautiful ....love the dimensions....
So, on a cloudy day... Lights are turned off..... Very interesting, please tell us more on why?

I ask because I live in western NY..... I see many cloudy days!!

Thank you,
Sean

Thank you, Sean.

Before our "3 Days Light Out" thread and when I first started the hobby, I used to have algae outbreak. The gentleman that assisted had advised me to turn off my lights a few days, cover all of the viewable panels with newspaper and the algae will die as they need light to grow. What I notice each time is not only the algae are gone but my corals seem to look better; therefore, I have continue to do this. I choose a cloudy day because it will be dark and I don't have to cover the panels with newspaper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stolireef

You have set an incredibly high standard with this tank. When my wife saw it, and looked at my still cycling 110, her first response was "Make it look like that!!"

Just beautiful.

Thank you. With patience and good husbandry, we will all get there. With all the TOTM articles that I've read, I think that JPMagyar, Joe Peck and mpoletti, Mark Poletti said that best. Joe - Follow/focus on 1 tank that we idolize. Mark - Enjoy and learn from our trial and errors.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shred5

Nice tank.. congrtas..

How long have you had the goni? is it as big as it looks...

I have had the Goni since 2010. Upon purchase, it was half dead midway down. Today, the base is fully encrusted and fully open its a foot all around. The length of my tank is 48" and height is 24". If we look at the FTS, we can have an idea of its size. A lot of hobbyists have asked me for caring tips. I wish I could share, but till this day I honestly don't know what it eats. When I brought it home, I used to feed it Cyclopeeze, but I never saw any feeding response so I gave up. Just like every coral, it has to eat something. Unfortunately, I just don't know what. :-(

stonecold · 05/02/2014, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slgcmg

How long have you had the goni? How do you not get algae blooms with your phosphate at .21??

Sorry, I missed your post.

Goni, please kindly reference my response above.

Algae Bloom. I think that by turning my lights off once a month has helped with this.

Phosphate. I know this is not the norm, but I never saw any ill effect on my corals. When it gets "outrageous" my SSC will tell me, the body will turn green. When it does, I will add a little more ROWA than normal and everything will be back to normal.

This is kind of funny so I thought that I'd share. Since I only test 3 parameters, a lot of hobbyists have asked in my thread for parameters. I took my water for testing. Sure enough, the tester told me among others my phosphate was "out of range". I asked, "do you think that I can keep these sticks? (pointing to the SPS). Tester, "no way, your water is no good. These are acroporas small polyps stony. They require pristine water." Me, "thank you."

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPotter

Well deserved!!!!!!

Thank you for your nomination, Steve. I will be following your epic build!!

FastUno · 05/02/2014, 10:30 PM

Congrats & great tank.

That Goni is to die for, such orange delight!!!!

jverna1 · 05/03/2014, 05:23 AM

Very nice job! Your tank is amazing! Do you shut the lights off every cloudy day or just one day a month? That Goni is beautiful.

Ink · 05/03/2014, 06:03 AM

Really, really congrats. I was waiting to see Your tank as TOTM.

I love your tank. I think the simplicity and constancy of your husbandry is the main key to success.

I also think that Radium (driven by PFO HQI), GFO, GAC and regular water changes have proven in many occasions to be a successful mix.

Luca

sahin · 05/03/2014, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonecold

Before our "3 Days Light Out" thread and when I first started the hobby, I used to have algae outbreak. The gentleman that assisted had advised me to turn off my lights a few days, cover all of the viewable panels with newspaper and the algae will die as they need light to grow. What I notice each time is not only the algae are gone but my corals seem to look better; therefore, I have continue to do this. I choose a cloudy day because it will be dark and I don't have to cover the panels with newspaper.

Do you have any idea if the Alk builds up during this phase? Or the corals continue to take up Alk?

mark54321 · 05/03/2014, 07:23 AM

Absolutely beautiful, very well deserved. Congratulation on TOTM!

05/02/2014, 04:19 AM	#2
DgenR8 I'm an American and I remember Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 43,992	I love this tank. Thank you for sharing it with us. __________________ “I wish there was a way to know that you were IN the good old days, before leaving them.” ~Andy Bernard Regional Manager, Scranton branch Dunder Mifflin Current Tank Info: Unknown slow drip, over 20 years damaged my house and heating system. No more tank.

05/02/2014, 07:54 AM	#4
cthedaytrader Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: LI Posts: 1,328	amazing tank, one of my favorites in a long time. Well done. __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 75G Rimless 40x24x18

05/02/2014, 05:04 PM	#10
sean obergfell Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Olean, ny Posts: 852	Just beautiful ....love the dimensions.... So, on a cloudy day... Lights are turned off..... Very interesting, please tell us more on why? I ask because I live in western NY..... I see many cloudy days!! Thank you, Sean __________________ Live Out Truth

05/02/2014, 05:13 PM	#12
Stolireef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scottsdale AZ Posts: 3,180 Blog Entries: 5	You have set an incredibly high standard with this tank. When my wife saw it, and looked at my still cycling 110, her first response was "Make it look like that!!" Just beautiful. __________________ I want to burn twice as bright and half as long. Oh, and a full tank crash is just an excuse for a new build. Current Tank Info: 125 Rimless Leemar, Apex, Trigger 30 Elite Sump, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 X Gen4 Radion XR30W, BM Doser, 2xMP40WES, 2xTunze 6095, Sicce Syncra 4.0.

05/02/2014, 05:56 PM	#14
shred5 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Waukesha , WI Posts: 4,998	Nice tank.. congrtas.. How long have you had the goni? is it as big as it looks... __________________ David Polzin

05/02/2014, 04:48 AM	#3
sahin Ultimate Reefer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,540	This is an amazing tank, I am glad the recognition has been made. This tank certainly deserves TOTM. Well done my friend!

05/02/2014, 09:11 AM	#5
Jeremy B. Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN / Muncie, IN Posts: 8,219	Nick, absolutely amazing tank, great job!!!

05/02/2014, 11:19 AM	#6
G_Sanab922 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Keys Posts: 1,392	Wow this is gorgeous! Love the variety of colors!

05/02/2014, 01:19 PM	#7
leandro_souza Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 16	I'm very jealous here .. Awesome tank.. Congratulations.

05/02/2014, 01:30 PM	#8
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	oh wow ! amazing color, amazing growth, and the aqua-scaping is out of this world ! would you mind telling us more about how you "suspended" the rocks from the sand bed by 1-2" ? any pics of the tank before corals went in ? Thank you for sharing your system with us.

05/02/2014, 04:40 PM	#9
bmullikin1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: seminole florida Posts: 1,797	incredible looking tank, are your phosphates really .21, as it goes against all the supposed rules.

05/02/2014, 05:10 PM	#11
Billini20 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Chicago Il Posts: 54	Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the floor! Who needs a Television when you could look at that all day. Just amazing

05/02/2014, 05:24 PM	#13
GoldeneyeRet Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 236	Im speechless..... congrats!

05/02/2014, 07:48 PM	#17
slgcmg Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 521	How long have you had the goni? How do you not get algae blooms with your phosphate at .21?? __________________ 180g reef 40g sump 250# LR 10 54w T5. 2 Nasos, sailfin, regal tang, coral beauty, powder blue, yellow tang, melanarus wrasse, 2 chromis, foxface, clownfish, LPS, various shrimps

05/02/2014, 07:53 PM	#18
SPotter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC Posts: 5,691	Well deserved!!!!!! __________________ Steve Am I really doing all of this for a fish tank?????? Current Tank Info: 360g Envision Acrylic Tank, Closed Loops, Vectra L1's, MP40QD's, 400w Radiums, Regal 300ext, Dastaco Ext3 CaRx, Controlled by GHL Profilux

05/02/2014, 10:30 PM	#21
FastUno Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: NY Posts: 1,726	Congrats & great tank. That Goni is to die for, such orange delight!!!! __________________ 75g AGA/RR/BB, 20g sump, Aquactinics 2x250 (Phoenix 14K)/2x54 T5 (AB & B+), Eheim 1262 Return, Deltec AP600, Tunze 6060 & Osmolator 3155, Homemade 2 part Current Tank Info: SW, Reef

05/03/2014, 05:23 AM	#22
jverna1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Philly Posts: 233	Very nice job! Your tank is amazing! Do you shut the lights off every cloudy day or just one day a month? That Goni is beautiful. __________________ Hi my name is Jay and im a coral crackhead! Current Tank Info: 180 gallon Aquarium Obsessed custom 4'x3'x2' SPS dominated reef tank, 100 gallon rubbermaid sump, 4 AI Vega's, Super Reef Octopus XP 3000 ext. (3) MP 40's. Apex controller, ESV B ionic via Bubble Magus Doser, Avast Marine Kalk reactor

05/03/2014, 06:03 AM	#23
Ink Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Milano, Italy Posts: 280	Really, really congrats. I was waiting to see Your tank as TOTM. I love your tank. I think the simplicity and constancy of your husbandry is the main key to success. I also think that Radium (driven by PFO HQI), GFO, GAC and regular water changes have proven in many occasions to be a successful mix. Luca

05/03/2014, 07:23 AM	#25
mark54321 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: chicago Posts: 2,040	Absolutely beautiful, very well deserved. Congratulation on TOTM! __________________ ############## ______MARK_______ ##############